Alarm system and method

Abstract

An alarm system includes a detector positioned to detect when an object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal. The alarm system includes a global positioning system (GPS) and a transmitter in communication with the detector which transmits wirelessly an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the transmitter's location when the transmitter receives the alarm signal. The alarm system includes a power supply control portion in communication with the transmitter which controls power to the transmitter. A method for protecting an object.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An alarm system comprising:
 a detector positioned to detect when an object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal; 
 a global positioning system (GPS) and a transmitter in communication with the detector which transmits wirelessly an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the transmitter's location when the transmitter receives the alarm signal; 
 a power supply control portion in communication with the transmitter which controls power to the transmitter; 
 wherein the power supply control portion includes a timer in communication with the detector and a power supply in communication with the timer and the transmitter, when the timer receives the alarm signal, the timer activates the power supply for a predetermined period of time and the power supply powers the transmitter to an active state for a predetermined period of time to transmit the alarm alert signal, after the predetermined period of time the power supply turns off power to the transmitter and the transmitter turns off to a dormant state; 
 a power supply monitoring circuit in communication with the power supply and the timer and the transmitter which monitors the power supply and produces a low battery signal when the power supply monitoring circuit detects the power supply has a power level below a predetermined power level and provides the low battery signal to the timer and the transmitter causing the timer to activate the power supply for the predetermined period of time to power the transmitter to the active state so the transmitter transmits wirelessly a low battery alert signal with coordinates of the transmitter's location when the transmitter receives the low battery signal; 
 a box in which the transmitter is disposed, and a box tamper circuit In communication the timer and the transmitter and the power supply that detects when the box is being tampered with and produces a box tamper signal when the box is tampered with and provides the box tamper signal to the timer and the transmitter causing the timer to activate the power supply for the predetermined period of time to power the transmitter to the active state so the transmitter transmits wirelessly a box tamper alert signal with coordinates of the transmitter's location when the transmitter receives the box tamper alert signal; and 
 a supervisory circuit in communication with the timer and the transmitter and the power supply which produces at predetermined intervals a status signal that indicates the system is operating properly, and provides the status signal to the timer and the transmitter causing the timer to activate the power supply for the predetermined time period to power the transmitter to the active state so the transmitter transmits wirelessly a status alert signal with coordinates of the transmitter's location when the transmitter receives the status signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  including a camera in communication with the detector and the power supply and the transmitter which takes a picture of the object when the camera receives the alarm signal and provides the picture to the transmitter for the transmitter to transmit wirelessly the picture as part of the alarm alert signal. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the alarm alert signal, the low battery alert signal and the status alert signal each includes a respective recorded text message. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2  wherein the alarm alert signal, the low battery alert signal and the status alert signal each includes a respective recorded voice message. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein the transmitter and GPS include a cell phone.